Shadowborn

Basic Information

Anatomy

Shadowborn are a near human species. As such they have two legs, two arms, and a single head held above an upright torso by a small neck. There are some differences though, first off is that all Shadowborn have a pair of horns, which come in as many shapes and lengths as there are Shadowborn, which come from the corners of their brow. They also have a long nearly prehensile tail. They are all an intersex as well having both needed sexual organs to create children, though pairs of two are still needed.

Genetics and Reproduction

All Shadowborn have what they call casually, a hole and a fertilization tentacle. The hole works much like a human vagina leading to a womb from which embryo and fetus Shadowborn are gestated. The fertilization tentacle is a far more sensitive and fair more prehensile penis. Some Shadowborn will have more than one tentacle. These have a tendency to be much longer than a human penis as they can stretch and twist without much loss in firmness as they are instead of vascular based like the human penis, are muscle based. When two Shadowborn copulate the two will often insert their tentacle into the other simultaneously and more often than not will result in pregnancy for both parties. Until they become pregnant, Shadowborn do not develop working mamory organs. With pregnancy they do however though they are not often the size of human ones. Unlike many other species, Shadowborn are capable of producing Shadowborn young from pairings with nearly any sentient species. Much of the biological information is redundantly kept in eggs and sperm of the Shadowborn allowing for what end up being near clones of their parent when coupling occurs with other species. Twins are exceedingly rare among Shadowborn.

Growth Rate & Stages

Much like humans Shadowborn go through a number of stages in life though they are not as impressive as that of the Vasps and their much varied stages. Shadowborn infants, or hornlings as they are called by Shadowborn, are much the same as human infants with the added pain of sprouting horns in much the same way that they sprout teeth during this time. Shadowborn develop quicker than humans physically and reach puberty around seven years of age. They are often smaller than humans by nearly a foot at max size and scholars reason that this early puberty is reason why. However the mental growth of Shadowborn continue much the same as a human would and are no more mature at an earlier age because of their earlier sexual maturation. They do have their growth spurt earlier than humans and between the ages nine and twelve will often out height human children of the same age. From the finish of their puberty they have reached their full size but will still take another decade or two for their brain to finish developing.

Ecology and Habitats

Shadowborn can live where ever a human can. They do this as humans do by building homes that are weather resistant and adapting their clothing and other activities to fit the biome they find themselves in.

Dietary Needs and Habits

Shadowborn are omnivores like humans and have no special dietary needs. They however have slightly more versatile digestive track and can eat a wider variety of plant mater that humans can't digest. It is not the most efficient way of eating still for them but if need be they can ea the bark of most trees and garner sustenance from it. Their infertility herb is poisonous to humans.

Biological Cycle

With the spring comes mating season for Shadowborn. All sexually mature Shadowborn become fertile for a month after the temperature has risen enough from its winter lows. There is an herb to counter act the fertility of the Shadowborn, but it doesn't get rid of the drive to breed. This herb though only prevents pregnancies from Shadowborn couples and for unknown reasons does not prevent it from Shadowborn and human pairings. Further to not indulge in that drive can have long term health concerns for the Shadowborn, ranging from increase anxiety levels for the next year to death in more severe reactions. As this occurs in children as well Shadowborn tend to be very reclusive from their human cousins during this time, for they understand the need of the children who are allowed, after consumption of the herb, to relieve themselves with similarly aged individuals, which most humans find abhorrent and more than one bloody fight has been sparked by 'well-meaning' humans, who do not understand Shadowborn physiology.

Additional Information

Facial characteristics

Shadowborn do not have facial hair like their human cousins, but tend to have sharper facial features. This has a tendency to make them look rather gaunt at times and in more extreme cases rather cruel.

Geographic Origin and Distribution

Shadowborn are a marginalized species in much of the Realm of Pi and as such tend to stick to themselves. Having been pushed from land to land, the Shadowborn have taken up life in the area's where humans have scorned. This is the tundra's and deserts, as well as remote and isolated lands.

Average Intelligence

Shadowborn have similar intelligence to humans. They have a higher rate of mental health issues, especially when traveling alone or without other Shadowborn. Further still the Shadowborn have a higher rate of having autistic or otherwise neurodivergencies. Many human scholars think this is because of their tainted heritage but Shadowborn scholars claim that it is because of their comparative acceptance of such individuals over human standards.

Perception and Sensory Capabilities

Shadowborn have much more light sensitive eyes and as such have excellent night vision. This also leads them to be primarily nocturnal, though not by biological imperative but by choice to avoid the painful brightness of the sun. Otherwise their senses are similar to humans.

Symbiotic and Parasitic organisms

They can form symbiotic relationships with humans, and can procreate with them.

Civilization and Culture

Naming Traditions

Shadowborn have similar naming tradition to their human cousins. A given name, sometimes a middle name, and a family name. Often whole cities of Shadowborn will take the same family name which often increases the use of middle names if just for ease of keeping track of who is who.

Beauty Ideals

Shadowborn have a varied sense of beauty ideals which changes depending on which city or outcropping of them you ask. Still there are things that are generally liked by all Shadowborn. Long hair is fairly common among Shadowborn and thought to be beautiful. Smaller size among fellow Shadowborn tends to be found as attractive, though many Shadowborn will tell their non-shadowborn companions that bigger is better amongst their non-shadowborn partners.

Gender Ideals

As a species that can and often all do get pregnant at some point their gender ideals, which are informed by human standards in many ways, tend towards feminine. Which isn't to say there aren't Shadowborn men just that they have very loose ideas of clothing divide among genders. Much like their sister species, the Gemlings, Shadowborn are far more loose with the gender roles. All are nuturing to their young and the young of others. All are expected to have a means of supporting their family, or at least those who are capable. There is no restrictions on politics or other managerial positions among Shadowborn except where enforced by humans. Each Shadowborn is encouraged to explore their idea of gender as much as possible as the ideas of the humans around them are often hard to avoid.

Courtship Ideals

Shadowborn often form very temporary relationships through out the year. However all sense of casuality falls out the door in the month or two prior to mating season. One of the few constants across all Shadowborn is the belief that once in their heat, that they can not properly give consent. As such consent is considered important to be had before the coming of the heat. Courting pairs will often offer to stay with or at one and anothers house for the duration and that both parties must agree on taking the herb or not. It is fine that one party takes the herb while the other doesn't as long as both parties are alright with that. Such contracts of consent can include more than just one other partner and often does for those looking to start a family.

Relationship Ideals

For most Shadowborn, having a family and children is a thing that they aspire to. Those who seek other fufillment look often for those who will be there for them for the long time coming. Of course often these two wants overlap. Polyamourous relationships are the norm for Shadowborn most families being made up of four parents, more hands make the likelihood that they all get pregnant at the same time more easy to deal with.

Average Technological Level

Their technological level is similar to that of humans, though of course depends on region. They are a mostly agarain society still finding themselves attached to farmland as much as humans are however recently the introduction of the growstone has improved the yield of fields and are causing a population boom.

History

As a near human species, and as with the other non humans of Pi, Shadowborn were created through the action of humans instead of evolving. Once a mad king looked to supplement his ailing army with new warriors stronger than the ones that served him at the time. Reaching out to a god of Shadow, the King was granted spells that would let him and his mages pull Demons from the Realm of Shadow. These creatures would serve as willing as any demon did when you pointed it towards an enemy to kill. They were effective at first but soon would turn against its masters. So the king looked for other solutions. The one his mages came up with was to bind a demon to a human, granting the human the strength and power of a demon but the control that came with a human mind. For a generation that worked. However when these soldiers came back from a war won, they started families as would any returning heroes. They did have difficulty of this because of their new monstrous forms but soon enough most found humans to love and families started to be born. This second generation however came out different than their demon bound parent. They were smaller, weaker and much more human looking. The king ordered them killed and for none of his Demon bound soldiers to procreate ever again. Finding their families threatened but not having the strength to face the greater part of an army that never fully trusted them the soldiers fled with their new families. This was the birth of the Shadowborn.

Common Myths and Legends

There is a common myth among the Shadowborn. It tells of a hidden area in the Realm of Shadow an area where all Shadowborn go after their first life where they are safe and more importantly together. The location various depending on telling but its normally near the entrance to the Realm of Fiction. A paradise waiting for them in the next life away from the prejudices of humans.

Genetic Ancestor(s)

• Humans

Lifespan

One hundred years

Average Height

1.2 meters

Average Weight

20-25 kgs

Average Physique

Shadowborn tend to be more wispy and more slender in build than humans even of similar height.

Body Tint, Colouring and Marking

Majority of Shadowborn have lighter skin than their human cousins, with reds and pinks as the most common of colors among Shadowborn. They have eye colors ranging from a deep purple to a pale yellow. Though most are either a black or purple.